"We're good to go, Astra!" Kalia called from inside the carriage. "Let's get this over with."
"Okies!" Astra snapped the reins.
The familiar lurch reminded Kalia just how much she hated traveling. I am definitely going to find a new mode of transportation.
"So where are we going, Master Lia?" Eliane stared out the window.
"The guildhall in Tuugo. Modo asked us to come by."
"Modo?"
"The king," Kalia replied casually.
"We're meeting with the king?!" Eliane's eyes snapped wide.
"Don't worry, he's a big softie once you get to know him."
"You just call him by his name?"
"Well, yeah."
"Isn't that rude?!"
"You'll see once we get there. He's... a bit different."
"I-if you say so..."
"Back again?" Torin greeted the carriage at the gates.
"Unfortunately..." Kalia sighed as she helped the girls out of the carriage. "Modo around?"
"Yeah, he's already at the guild waiting for you." Torin took the reins from Astra. "I'll have the maids take your horses. You guys go on ahead."
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"Ah, there you guys are!" Modo waved enthusiastically as the party entered the hall.
"Morning, Modo." Kalia waved casually.
Eliane stared between them for a second.
"A-A pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty." She knelt on one knee.
"And who's this, then?" Modo grinned. "So polite."
"This is Eliane."
Eliane winced slightly at the mention of her name.
"So you're the one that Kalia here picked up?"
Eliane stiffened. So he knows...
"Y-yes, Your Majesty." She lowered her head even further.
"Just call me Modo. I'm not one for all this 'Your Majesty' talk."
Eliane glanced up at Kalia.
"You can stand up." Kalia nodded. "It's okay."
"O-okay. Nice to meet you, Your Ma... Modo."
"Much better!" the king boomed. "Now come, sit. Let's talk about your reward."
That's it...? Eliane inhaled sharply. No shackles... no guards...
"Eli?" Eron nudged her.
"H-huh?"
"We're sitting over here."
"Oh! Right!"
"I know I said this wasn't an official guild quest, but I can't just send you home with nothing." Modo waved over the guild clerk. "So, I had this mission listed as a basic monster-slaying request."
The clerk unfurled a scroll and cleared his throat. "For the slaying of thirty Tursian Bladebacks, The Founders are hereby awarded twenty thousand gold coins..."
Kalia choked at the amount after running some quick calculations in her head. One gold was about one hundred dollars... Twenty thousand gold was two million dollars.
"...and they are also to be promoted directly to C rank."
Kalia snapped up in her seat. "Three ranks!"
"Well, you did eliminate some very dangerous monsters, after all." Modo smiled.
"That means we are jumping from F rank all the way up to C!"
"Correct," the clerk answered. "As such, you now have full access to the guild shops and can accept any quest rank C and below."
"Wait, wait, wait." Kalia waved her hands. "This is a lot..."
"Just accept it, Kalia." Modo laughed. "You have more than earned it."
"We can use the guild shops?" Astra suddenly leaned across the table. "I've always wanted to check out that scroll shop!"
"You're gonna spend all that gold, aren't you?"
"No..." Astra paused. "...just some of it."
Eliane leaned toward Eron. "Is this normal?"
"You get used to it."
Eliane leaned back, her eyes drifting around the table. Just who are these people...?
"Now, there is just one more thing I'd like to discuss with you."
"Please, not another mission..."
"No, no. One of the people you rescued has requested to work for you."
"Really? Who?"
"I believe her name is Lora."
"Oh, Lora. Why would she want to come work for me, though?"
"She insisted on it, actually. I tried offering her a position at the palace, but she was having none of it."
Kalia glanced around the table. "We probably could use some help around the house."
"A few extra hands would be nice," Fio added. "Keeping up with those girls is a lot of work."
"Alright, but I'd like to talk to her first."
"Excellent!" Modo turned to one of his guards. "Fetch Lora for me. She should be in the palace parlor."
The guard saluted. "Right away, Sir!"
"Excuse me, Lady Kalia." One of the guild clerks approached and placed a thick stack of papers on the table in front of her. "There is just a bit of paperwork I need you to fill out to finalize your ranking and reward."
Kalia glanced down at the pile of forms. "Of course there is..."
"Ha! Good luck, Lia!" Astra laughed, patting Kalia on the back.
"I'll leave you to it, then, Kalia." Modo rose from his chair. "If you need anything, you know where I'm at."
"Actually, since Eliane isn't officially part of our party yet, could she join at our current rank?"
Modo gave the clerk a nod.
"Of course." The clerk disappeared behind the counter.
Eliane's head snapped up. "M-me?"
"Well, yeah. It'd be easier if you could accept the same quests as the rest of us."
"Oh, right."
The clerk returned carrying another stack of forms. "I'll just need you to fill these out."
Kalia stared at the second stack. "Oh, God..."
"These ones are actually for Miss Eliane."
Kalia immediately shoved the stack across the table. "Congratulations."
Eliane stared at the mountain of paper. "...Thank you?"
"Welcome to The Founders." Kalia laughed.
"I'll need Miss Eliane to come with me to get her guild identification card."
"Alright, I'll just fill these out over there, then." Eliane collected her forms and followed the clerk into another room.
Astra leaned over Kalia's shoulder. "Want some help, Lia?"
"I'm sorry, but only the party leader can fill out and sign guild documents."
"Just take the girls home, Astra..." Kalia rubbed her temples. "...we'll be home later."
"Okies!" Astra shouted, already halfway to the door. "See you later!"
"Yeah..."
"Lady Kalia." A voice interrupted Kalia's focus.
"What now...?" Kalia sighed without even turning around. "...No, wait, let me guess. More forms to sign, right?"
"Um, no. I've brought Miss Lora to speak with you."
"Oh, sorry..." She set her quill down.
"Hello, Kalia. It's good to see you again."
"Likewise." Kalia smiled. Lora looked considerably better than the last time she'd seen her. "Has Tuugo been treating you well?"
"Very well, actually. Better than I expected."
"Good to hear." Kalia motioned toward the empty chair. "Take a seat. Might as well get comfortable while we talk."
"So, Modo mentioned that you requested to work for me."
"Yes, I was hoping to do so."
Kalia leaned back in her chair. "Lora, if this is about repaying me for what happened in Shella, you don't owe me anything."
"But I do. You saved our lives back there. I owe you my life for that."
"You don't owe me anything, Lora. I don't expect repayment for doing the right thing."
Lora fell silent for a moment. "Then don't think of it as repayment."
"Hmm?"
"I still need to make a life for myself, Kalia." Lora folded her hands in her lap. "I have nowhere to return to, and I need work. I'd rather work for someone I know is a good person."
Kalia's expression softened. "So this is something you actually want?"
"Yes."
"We do need the help." Kalia tapped a finger against the table. "But if you work for me, you're getting paid."
"Oh, no. I couldn't..."
"You are getting paid, Lora. This isn't a negotiation. I didn't rescue you from slavery to turn around and make you work for free."
"...Understood."
"Good." Kalia smiled. "What kind of work are you comfortable doing?"
"Almost anything you could need around the house. I can cook, clean, handle shopping... I'm good with kids."
Kalia rubbed her chin. "Exactly what we need."
"So you'll consider it, then?"
"No need. You're hired."
"Thank you, Kalia!"
"Now about your pay." Kalia paused for a moment. "How does fifteen gold a week sound? Plus, your room and food will be covered by us."
"F-fifteen?!" Lora stammered.
"Is that too little?"
"N-no... that would be great."
"Perfect!" Kalia extended her hand. "Then welcome aboard, Lora!"
Lora stared at the offered hand for a moment before slowly taking it.
"I'll do my best!"
"That's all I'm asking."
Kalia smiled as Lora released her hand.
Then her eyes drifted back toward the stacks of forms waiting on the table.
Her smile vanished.
"...I don't suppose you're good at paperwork?"
Lora laughed. "Afraid not."
"Worth a shot." Kalia sighed, picking up her quill again. "I already sent the girls home. If you'd like to wait around, I'll get us a ride home once I'm done here."
If I ever get done...
"I don't mind waiting." Lora leaned back in her chair.
"All done, Master Lia!" Eliane poked her head above Kalia's stack.
"Well, good for you..." Kalia whispered as she flipped over another form.
"Oh, hi, Lora. What are you doing here?" Eliane finally noticed the woman sitting across from Kalia.
"Kalia just hired me to be a maid at the house."
Eliane's face brightened. "Does that mean you are going to be staying with us?"
"Mhmm. Starting today." Lora nodded. "If we ever get out of here, that is."
"I'm going as fast as I can..." Kalia sighed.
Eliane pulled her new guild card out of her pocket. "Look, Master Lia!"
Kalia glanced up at the girl proudly displaying her card. "Once again, welcome to The Founders, Eliane!"
"Thanks!" Eliane carefully tucked her card back into a pocket.
"I don't get it... why does the guild need to know that..." Kalia had resumed her work and was grumbling under her breath.
"Why don't we go wait outside, Eliane? I think Kalia needs to focus."
"You already asked me this four times..." Kalia groaned, dropping her forehead onto the table.
"I think you're right..." Eliane followed Lora out the door.
Kalia lifted her head just enough to watch them disappear.
"Lucky you..." Kalia rolled her eyes.
The clerk quietly slid another form across the table.
"Lady Kalia, you missed a signature."
Kalia's head dropped back onto the table.
"I hate this place."
Eliane and Lora had been waiting outside for hours when the door to the guildhall swung open with enough force to nearly knock them over.
"I swear, if I see one more piece of paper or quill..." Kalia slammed the door behind her. "...I will burn this place to the ground!"
Lora raised an eyebrow. "She's kidding, right?"
"Surely..." Eliane whispered. "...probably."
"Let's go home..."
"Lady Kalia!" a familiar voice called from the guildhall doorway.
Kalia's spine stiffened as she slowly turned around. No, no, no...
"Yes?" Kalia managed through gritted teeth.
"You almost forgot your reward!" The clerk pointed to several large sacks on a handcart beside him.
She fell to her knees, almost weeping. "Th-thanks..."
"You're quite welcome!" The clerk bowed. "Have a wonderful evening!"
"Mhmm..." Kalia nodded weakly. "You too."
She quickly stood and turned to the other two. "Let's get the hell out of here before they decide I need to sign another damn form!"
"But what about the gold?"
"Torin!" Kalia yelled for the palace guard. "Help... please."
"Ha, no problem. I'll send for a carriage to take you all home."
"Thank you..." Kalia sank onto a nearby bench.
"How many forms?"
Kalia gazed blankly into the distance. "Enough."
"Sounds about right." Torin laughed. "You just relax. I'll get your stuff loaded."
A short while later, a carriage pulled up beside them. Kalia immediately dove into the back of the carriage as if the guild clerks might come after her at any moment.
"All set!" Torin tapped on the carriage door.
"Home... please..."
To Kalia, the ride home felt like an eternity. It wasn't until she saw the familiar gates of home that she felt like she could finally relax.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the entryway. "We've arrived, Lady Kalia," the driver called.
Kalia's ears pricked at the news. "Home!"
Fio was standing in the doorway waiting for them. "Where have you been? You've been gone for hours!"
"Don't ask..." Kalia sighed.
"O-okay."
Lora stepped out of the carriage and gazed up at the huge house in front of her.
"This is your home? It's huge!"
"Yup!" Kalia stretched her arms over her head. "And now it's your home too."
"Lora?" Fio poked her head around Kalia.
"Hello again, Fio."
"What brings you out this way?"
"She's going to be working for us from now on," Kalia answered for her.
"Really? Like a maid?"
"Mhmm." Kalia nodded. "Eliane, you take Lora inside. Fio, help me get these sacks off the carriage."
"Mkay!"
"Jeez, Master Lia..." Fio huffed as she tried to lift one of the sacks over her shoulder. "What's in these things?"
"Gold." Kalia groaned as she dragged the last bag up the stairs.
"Gold?!"
"Yeah, Modo awarded us twenty thousand for completing the mission in Shella."
"Tw-twenty thousand!" Fio gasped. "That's a small fortune!"
"Is it?"
"We could live comfortably off of this for the rest of our lives!"
The rest of our...? Kalia's thought was cut off.
"Lia!" Astra bounded across the room the moment Kalia entered the parlor.
"Yes, I'm back, Astra."
"We saved you dinner."
"Pfft, no you didn't, Astra. You ate both portions and had to make more." Eron laughed.
"Eron, you promised you wouldn't tell!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Sorry, Lora, but this..." Kalia pointed at Astra and Eron bickering. "...is your new workplace."
"It's no trouble. Reminds me of how my sister and I used to argue when we were kids."
"All right, you two, break it up." Kalia gently scolded the girls. "Fio, can you show Lora to her room?"
"What room?"
"The one at the end of the hall upstairs."
"Um, that's my lab, Lia," Astra chimed in.
"Oh, right. Wait..." The realization hit her. "...do we not have a spare bedroom?"
"Remember, we gave Eron her own room a few months ago, and now she is sharing it with Eliane."
"Fio has her room, the other three are sharing another, then there's my room and yours."
"That's okay, I can sleep on the couch."
"No, no. I promised you a room, so you'll get a room."
"She can have my room, Lia." Astra raised her hand. "I mean, it's not like I have been using it anyway."
"I couldn't possibly take Astra's room."
"I insist!" Astra shot a look at Kalia.
"Then where will you sleep?"
"With Lia!"
"You're just looking for an excuse to move into my room permanently, aren't you?"
"Maaaybe..." Astra flashed her fanged smile. "Do you not want me to...?"
Damn... her secret weapon...
"Fine. It's not like I was going to win this battle anyway."
"Yay!" Astra threw her arms around Kalia.
"Yeah, yeah..." Kalia sighed, despite the smile creeping across her face. "We'll get your stuff out tomorrow."
"Thank you." Lora smiled. "I really appreciate it."
"Don't thank me." Kalia nodded toward Astra, who was still clinging to her. "Apparently, you just helped her accomplish something she's been working toward for months."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Astra said innocently.
"Of course you don't."
"Hehe."
Fio tapped Lora on the shoulder. "I'll show you to your room. There probably isn't much storage available until we get Astra's stuff moved out, but feel free to make use of whatever is available."
"Oh, well, all I have are a few changes of clothes His Majesty provided for me."
Kalia glanced over her shoulder, still trying to remove Astra from her waist. "We'll get some things for you tomorrow in town, then. If you need anything specific, just let me know."
"You don't have to do that. I can make do until I get paid."
"You know I'm not going to let that happen." Kalia waved a hand dismissively. "Consider it your hiring bonus."
"Hiring bonus...?" Lora tilted her head. "Is there such a thing?"
Right... that must sound insane in this world...
"Just go with it, Lora." Fio patted the woman on the back with a smile. "It's easier that way."
"Does she do this often?"
"Constantly. You'll get used to it."
"I do not!" Kalia retorted.
Fio grinned. "Whatever you say, Master Lia."
Lora couldn't help but laugh. "Alright. I'll... just go with it."
"Quick learner. I like that."
"Come on." Fio motioned toward the stairs. "I'll show you where everything is."
"Thanks."
Lora followed her upstairs, leaving Kalia to deal with her new "roommate" alone.
"You can let go now..."
"Don't wanna."
"Astra..."
"C'mon, let me have this." She looked up at Kalia with a big smile.
"Fine." Kalia sighed, powerless against that fanged smile.
"Yay!" Astra squeezed her a little tighter.
"How is this any different from normal, though? You already stay with me every night."
"Because now it's our room."
"You know, one might think this whole thing was planned from the beginning."
"Mhmm!"
"Sometimes I forget you're a genius..."
"Hehe."
Kalia's stomach rumbled, completely ruining the moment. "Is there still anything left to eat, or did you eat it all?"
"Yeah, I felt bad after eating yours. So I made you dinner!"
Oh no... Kalia's eye twitched.
"Oh, you shouldn't have..."
Astra took off into the kitchen and returned with an ordinary-looking meal.
Kalia eyed the food suspiciously. "You're saying you made this?"
"Mhmm!" Astra proudly held the plate up. "I worked really hard!"
I have to eat this...
Kalia cautiously picked up a fork and took a piece of meat. Smells okay. She took a small bite.
Kalia's eyes snapped open.
"Well?"
"This is great!" Kalia took another mouthful.
"I've been practicing with Fio for months!"
"And not with me...?" Kalia feigned a hurt look.
"Sorry..." Astra frowned. "I just wanted to surprise you..."
"I'm kidding, Astra." Kalia scraped the last of the food onto her fork. "I am, indeed, quite surprised."
"You're not just saying that, right?"
"No, dinner was amazing." Kalia smirked. "A far cry from the abomination you made for breakfast that one time."
Astra puffed out her cheeks. "It wasn't that bad."
"Astra..."
"Okay... It was that bad."
Kalia laughed. "You've come a long way."
"Hehe, thanks!"
Kalia stretched her arms above her head with a yawn. "I think it's time for this demoness to get to bed. Coming?"
Astra broke into a wide grin as she followed Kalia up the stairs. "Mhmm."